Currents - June 2013

Supersize Emblem Announces the Seventh Coming

Drivers along Detroit’s I-75 freeway were treated to more than the typical bumper-to-bumper gridlock recently when Chevrolet projected the new C7 Corvette’s crossed-flags emblem two stories high and approximately 75 feet wide on the city’s Russell Industrial Center—the site where the car was unveiled on January 13.

We asked Chevrolet about the thinking behind the three-day publicity spectacle. “The reason was simple,” Chevrolet spokesman Monte Doran said. “We wanted to dominate the buzz of the Detroit Auto Show and make a memorable entrance for the new Corvette.”

Sale of C7 0001 to Benefit Charity

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Chevrolet announced it would donate the proceeds from the sale of the first production 2014 Corvette Stingray, which took place at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale collector-car auction on January 19.

Though a red pre-production Stingray took center stage at the celebrity auction, it was merely a stand-in. In actuality, the high bidder won the rights to ’14 Corvette VIN 0001, which isn’t expected to be produced until this summer. The winner will be able to select the car’s exterior and interior colors, as well as its production options.

Proceeds will benefit the College for Creative Studies (CCS) in Detroit, a school renowned for its automotive-design program. “The new Corvette will…help cultivate the next generation of designers who may work on modern, dramatic Chevrolets in the future. In fact, more than 170 CCS alumni already work in the GM Design studios,” GM Vice President of Global Design Ed Welburn said.

The CCS is regarded as one of the world’s premier institutions for industrial and transportation design, with more than 1,400 students pursuing undergraduate graduate degrees in 12 programs.

Drive the 2014 Corvette Now…on Gran Turismo 5

Corvette fans will have to wait until the third quarter of 2013 to bring home a real C7, but fans of Sony Computer Entertainment’s PlayStation 3 system will soon have a chance to push the car to the limits in the critically acclaimed Gran Turismo 5 racing game.

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Nearly 500,000 people have driven the camouflaged Stingray prototype since it was introduced to the game in November of last year. Chevrolet and Polyphony Digital, developers of the Gran Turismo franchise, collaborated to provide an authentic driving experience.

“Getting behind the wheel of the all-new Corvette Stingray is sure to be a thrilling experience,” said Chris Perry, vice president of Chevrolet Marketing. “Through this unique collaboration, Chevrolet is able…to give performance-car enthusiasts access to an exclusive driving experience the day after the Corvette Stingray’s world debut.”

During the creation of the virtual Stingray, careful attention was paid to the tiniest details of the new design inside and out, as well as to the car’s driving characteristics—right down to the shift schedule for the seven-speed manual transmission with Active Rev Matching.

“The Polyphony team has had an unforgettable experience getting to know the Corvette Stingray, and bringing it into Gran Turismo 5,” said Kazunori Yamauchi, president of Polyphony Digital. “We’re excited to share our experience with fans and let them feel, explore, and drive the Corvette in a way that wasn’t possible until now.”

The C7 Stingray is available now as a free download through the PlayStation Store. For more information, visit www.us.gran-turismo.com/us.

Corvettes for Chip ’12 Weathers the Storm

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Even when life isn’t good on the outside, you have the option of making it good from the inside out. This expression certainly applied to the 2012 edition of the Corvettes for Chip show. The event was originally scheduled to take place on November 4 at the Brandywine Picnic Park in West Chester, Pennsylvania, where it’s been held in previous years. However, Mother Nature had other plans. As a result of Hurricane Sandy, which passed through the region the week before, the Brandywine venue was flooded. This sent show organizers scrambling to find a new location in time.

Within a week the volunteer crew had secured a new location—Thomas Chevrolet in West Chester, Pennsylvania. More than 230 Corvettes and their owners showed up and took part in the judged portion of the show. Everything from C1s to C6s, in a variety of mild to wild flavors, could be found on what ended up being a bitterly cold autumn day.

Callaway Corvettes were the thematic centerpiece of C4C ’12, and a number of desirable examples were in attendance. The Miller family even contributed to the display by bringing a ’91 Callaway Speedster from their collection. Other crowd-favorite events included the auction that took place at the end of the show, as well as the presentation of the awards.

The effects of the recent hurricane didn’t go unnoticed, however. In previous years, many Corvettes from New Jersey and New York were present, but the devastation caused by the storm kept many of these regular attendees at home.

As with prior shows, the goal was to bring the Corvette community together to raise awareness of a relatively unknown disease called Amyloidosis, which struck down Chip Miller, the co-founder of Carlisle Events, in 2004. For those not familiar with the ailment, it has the ability to mimic other illnesses with similar symptoms. It is a fast-moving disease that attacks major organs like the heart, kidneys, and nervous system. Due to its deceptive nature, it can kill in as little as three months.

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Proceeds generated from the Corvettes for Chip show go directly to the Chip Miller Charitable Foundation. A total of $12,000 dollars were raised at the most recent event, a respectable sum in light of the weather conditions and last-minute relocation.

“Corvettes for Chip has raised over $50,000 in the last six years. The events have helped raise awareness to Amyloidosis in great measures as well,” said Chip Miller’s son, Lance, who is also one of the show’s organizers. “My family, the Chip Miller Charitable Foundation, and I, can’t thank all of the many sponsors, attendees, and, most of all, the volunteers for making Corvettes for Chip such a tremendous success. I know my father is smiling down with joy, knowing he’s still making a positive impact in the world.”

Show organizers have already started making plans for C4C ’13. While the event will again be held at Thomas Chevrolet, the date has been moved forward to September 29, with a rain date of October 5.

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